Hair loss - help

[spunkyjune645]

I am halfway through treatment (24 weeks) and my hair loss is pretty bad.  I don't know the best way to care for my hair during this period, so would like some suggestions on products, style, etc, that have helped others cope (and make the thinning not so evident.

[spunkyjune645]

Thanks for your comments and suggestions - a couple of them sound worth trying.  I quit coloring my hair before I started tx, and try and not put stress on it (or myself) whenever possible.  I use baby shampoo and Pantene moisturizer, then apply some gel.  Part of the problem is that I'm still working so I need to appear professional.  I'm a Trainer, and so am usually up in front of people, and with the loss, breakage, frizziness, etc. it gets embarrasing some days.  
Think I'll try the short spiky thing with the gel - that may help.  Thanks again to everyone for your comments and suggestions.   I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR IT WILL GROW BACK.

Spunkyjune....

[rita863]

I lost alot, when I started tx I had should lenght hair, as it started falling out I just cut very short and would use gel to spike it up.  It didnt look to horrible.  On weekends when I was not working, I wore bandanas and I would cover my scalp in cholestrol treatment so my scalp would stop itching.  I never tried the Nioxin so I dont  know how that works.
I am post tx about six weeks and its growing like weeds!!!!  Best of luck!
peace
rita

[epiphiny]

An alice-band is a thick stretchy band that pulls your hair back off your face but still leaves it flowing over your ears.  I think the name comes from the band that Alice-In-Wonderland wore in her hair...  I love my alice-bands!!

[sasha34]

Hi,

The same thing happened to me, my hair went very thin, and i was told by a few people to use Nioxin which includes a shampoo, conditioner and a leave in spray, Im not sure if it helped me, as my hair did stop coming out with time. But its supposed to thicken your hair.

Sashax

[lapis]

What's an alice-band?  I have plenty of bandanas, maybe an alice-band is a magic thing?

[epiphiny]

Omg, all the fine baby hair standing straight up from the part is happening to me too!  Just drives me nuts!!  It itches me!  But at least its growing!

[lalapple]

i'm not really sure hair care products are everything.  i started losing a lot of hair during those weeks and was completely not prepared for it all.  i would sometimes cry in the shower when my hair clogged up the drain.  ironically, i've also noticed itchiness so i switched to using Head & Shoulders 2 in 1 and rinse with a Pantene conditioner.  losing hair was embarrassing esp bc i had to go to school everyday and i'm not a hat person.  i was told to not use hair ties and be gentle with brushes.  

most importantly, don't stress out!  it'll make you lose even more hair.  into 36th week so far, still losing hair, but at least the drains don't get as clogged.  been noticing a lot of baby hair standing up and growing right out of my part!  it'll grow back ;)  hopefully

[epiphiny]

Hi there, welcome along.

You know I think is one of the most discussed topics on the board, it seems to happen to everyone and everyone has different ways of dealing with it.  It has certainly been an ongoing nightmare for me, thankfully I only have 7 and a bit weeks left!

I don't know what sort of hair you have so I don't know if my experiences will help you but here goes:

I have/had long, highlighted, blonde hair.  It's very fine but before tx it was plentiful.  It's now about a 3rd of it's volume and about 6 or more inches shorted.

I have tried every product under the sun.  The frustrating part is it seems to change constantly so what might work today won't work tomorrow.

Nioxin worked well for giving the appearance of fullness and I do believe it stimulated new growth BUT it wasn't very moisturising and my hair still snapped and it also drove my scalp crazy as it has so much menthol in it.  Menthol is supposed to calm an irritated scalp.  I just found it made me feel like a bunch of red ants were stinging my scalp!

At the moment I have settled on a hypoallergenic shampoo by Kerastase which is calming to my scalp and seems to stop all the new strands of hair from standing straight up on top of my head!  

I have paid special attention to keeping the ends moisturized with deep conditioning treatments frequently and tried to avoid using my hair dryer except when absolutely necessary and then only on a very cool setting.

I have also stopped highlighting my hair.  I tried it about 3 months in and I spent the next month itching like crazy.  It's been interesting to let my hair grow through naturally but I am rather shocked at the amount of silver and white strands that I have developed!  Of course, they are a different texture as well so that has also made it confusing for me.  Everything changes on tx!

As to the cut, I found if I cut too much off the length it kind of rose up around me like a halo and I had to fight to keep it down!  Eventually I  just left the length and put in some layers to deal with the frizz and fluff.  Occasionally I get the split ends nibbled off at the hairdressers.

To be honest I look like a scarecrow more often than not and on the bad days bandannas and scarves have saved my style reputation!!  Also, I've rediscovered alice-bands!  I don't go anywhere without an alice-band and a bandanna in my bag!

Hope you find a way that works for you...

Epi :)